Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-09
CURIOUS THINGS IN LIFE.

The postoGlce department has refused to
name Nebraska postoflice Old Maid.
In lifting one of her pillows Mrs Emma
Gephart, Of Tuscola, Ills, who was about to
retire, disturbed a large blue racer.
AS an evidence of the fact that genius Is
still appreciated, it may be mentioned that q
western town has been named for Bill Nye.
Lieut.. Schwatka says he has seen in Alaska
huge mammoth tusks of fine ivory in the
curve of which man could stand straight
Charles A. Tyler of New York city, has
the longest record of any postman in the
United States He has been letter carrier
for forty years, in the course of which time
be has delivered over 100000 letters.
In divorce case at Exeter, N. H., the
daughter was given permission to accompany
her father TO church, to dine with him twice
week, and to make short calls with him
with an attendant every day except Monday.
In the city of Mexico everybody lives over
n shop, if the house be two stories, or uses
the lower floor for stabling the horses, quar-
tering the servants, etc Even milionaires
often rent the ground floor Of their swell res
licences for business purposes
A one legged beggar of st. Louis became
so urgent in his request for aid that he was
arrested the other day. When the police
searched him they found fifteen tobacco bags
| in his pockets and sewed to his ragged
clothes and each bag contained some money.
The total amount was s744l.
There is said to be a man in Leadville, COL,
who can tell by the tinglng sensation in his
! fingers when he walks over body of ore.
| He Is living mineral detectOr. His powers
are said to have been thoroughly tested, and
he has earned large sums by his peculiar
gifts, but his fondness for faro keeps him
poor.
A Utica man was walking home the other
night when he heard a splash in the Erie
canal and a struggle in the water. He at
once plunged in to rescue the drowning per-
son, but found that it was dog. Not to be
deprived Of the pleasure of rescuing some
thing, he rescued the dog and took it home
with him
John Stewards family, near Altoona, Ia,
had remarkable escape recently John
brought home some corn meal, but as it was
rather late in the afternoon Mrs. Stewart
said that she would not use it that night ex-
cept to feed some young chickens. The chicks
etc greedilY, and the next morning forty
three Of them were dead. The Stewards have
no idea what was in the neal
A curious result of the placing Of electric
lights in front of the treasury and other pub
lie buildings at Washington has been an ex-
traordnary combination of spiders webs
The spiders have discovered that flies, moths,
etc, ore attracted by the light, and hence
their webs are in some parts so thick that
parts of the architectural ornamentation are
no longer visible.
a thirst dance has been in progress this
week on the Two Hills Indian reserve oppo-
site Edmonton, Ont, About fifty tents of In
dams took part. Those who take part in it
dance often and as long as the music plays
and neither eat nor drink during the whole
forty-eight hours One of the women taking
part upward of 100 years Of age and
had number of grandchildren on the
ground.
There was u shower Of stones near Dolores,
in the volcanic region of the Argentine Re
public, few weeks ago, that lasted for more
than minute. The stones fell as thick as
hail, and varied in size from a pebble to q
very respectable holder. Great damage was
done to trees, while barns and outhouses were
demolished, many domestic animals killed
and large numbers Of wild geese and hawks
on the wing.
Near Tamaorora, His, several days ago, q
little child OF Mr Naughman was set IN Its
high chair at the table while its mother was
getting dinner a chicken came in at the
door and flew upon the table. Mr. Waugh
man threw case knife at the chicken; the
knife glanced and struck the child in the
forehead, cutting cash near the temple
about an inch and half long. The child
lived about a week and then died.
Eight year-old Willie Donstine fell into the
Schuyliill river at Philadelphia, and was
likely to drown, when John FinleySoA waded
out and grabbed him. He was taking the
boy ashore all right when lie himself fell into
a deep hole, and, not being able to swim, he
ami Willie We're both likely to drown. Al
this juncture 11-year Martin Toohey
, and John Weaver, another small boy, came
TO the rescue, and succeeded in saving the
, man and the child.